Springfield Armory XD Sub-Compact 9mm

The chamber of the XD pistol is fully supported, as seen in the above photo.
You won't see bulged brass coming out of an XD. I use a Dillon 650 press
for making my reloads and have no issues with brass life.

Since it is my intention to use the sub-compact as a CCW option, I thought I
would do a few comparisons between it and my
Kahr PM9. I'll include the some reference info regarding my
4" service XD9 too just to keep size and weight in perspective.

PM9

XD9sc

XD9

Barrel Length:

3" steel

3" steel

4" steel

Frame:

Polymer

Polymer

Polymer

Slide:

Stainless Steel

Steel - Melonite finish

Stainless Steel

Length:

5.42"

6.25"

7.3"

Height:

4.0"

4.75"
5.5" w/ extended mag

5.75"

Slide width:

.90"

1.05"

1.05"

Weight w/ empty mag:

15.9 ozs. w/ compact mag

26 ozs. w/ compact mag

28 ozs. w/ mag

A comparison of the difference in height between the XD9sc (left) and the XD9
service (right). The biggest problem folks usually have with concealed
carry is ensuring that the grip does not print through their cover garment.
A 1" shorter grip of the XD9sc makes is easier to negate this problem.

Another comparison....this time between the XD9sc (left) and my Kahr PM9
(right). The PM9 removes yet another .75" from the grip length and makes
for an even easier pistol to carry concealed.

The width is another dimension that will increase or decrease the difficulty you
have in regards to properly concealing your pistol. The PM9 (right) is
well known for its slim design at just .90". This is not to say that the
XD9sc (left) can not be properly concealed. Its footprint will simply
require a bit more effort to keep it properly under wraps.

My co-worker and I also exchanged a couple of lower end holsters when we swapped
the pistols. I had a XD9 4" BlackHawk Serpa II holster that had been
superseded by one from Blade-Tech and as luck had it, he had the same type but
for the XD9 3" barrel. The Serpa II employs an active retention system
that engages the trigger guard of the XD pistol.

Another unique quality of the XD9 sub-compact is the light rail. Per the
Springfield Armory web site, this is the only pistol in its class (I assume they
mean sub-compact) that sports a light rail. While I don't have a rail
mounted light, it was good of Springfield to supply rail should a person decide
to add one (or even a laser for that matter).

The sights on the XD9sc are the same as on its bigger brothers. The front
and rear sights are both drift adjustable although I can't say I've met anyone
that has done that. The rear sight provides a white dot on either side of
the square notch while the front sight displays yet another white dot.
Line up all three white dots, equally spaced, and you have what amounts to
proper sight alignment.

Also like other XDs, the XD9sc uses a trigger safety, dubbed the Ultra Safety
Assurance (USA) Action Trigger System. The XD9sc also has a grip safety
that must be fully depressed in order to fire the pistol as well as cycle the
slide.

In summary, I find the XD9 sub-compact to be very much on par with the other
fine XD models that Springfield Armory offers. I look forward to using it
at the range and maybe even a training session at some point in the future.

When I get some time to run the sub-compact through its paces at the range, I'll
update this review with that information.